Valtteri Bottas candidly admits regret over his Sauber stint, describing his last two seasons as a “downward spiral” of challenges.
Valtteri Bottas stated that if he could go back over the past three years, he would not have signed with Sauber.
Aside from Logan Sargeant, the former ten-time Grand Prix winner, Bottas, is the only driver to have competed in 2024 without scoring a single point.
However, the Finn, set to leave the grid for now after losing his seat at Audi-Sauber, qualified an impressive 9th for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
“That was one of the best laps of my career,” Bottas said.
“It’s a bit of a shame that it’s come so late this season and that the updates are only now starting to work. A bit ironic, perhaps.”
“If you look at the season as a whole, it’s probably for the best that we part ways now.”
Bottas is expected to return to Mercedes to replace Mick Schumacher as the reserve driver for his former team in 2025. But he’s not ready to back down just yet, with the race set to start in a few moments.
“Next week, we’ll decide what’s next for me next year. First, let’s finish this race and then focus on what’s ahead.”
Bottas has made “What’s Next?” a viral marketing slogan since losing his Sauber seat for 2025, and it’s clear Formula 1 remains part of his plans.
“I feel like I’m not done with this sport. I still have something to give, so I’ll keep going.”
He readily admits that his three-year contract with Sauber ultimately led to a dead end in his career.
When asked whether joining the Swiss team might not have been his wisest decision, Bottas said: “If I could go back three years, I would have gone elsewhere.”
“Unfortunately, it’s true. It was a big mistake, but it’s hard to foresee these things in advance. And the first year with (Frédéric) Vasseur was good. The team spirit was strong, and the results were quite decent.”
“The two seasons that followed were like a downward spiral. Of course, these things also affect my image as a driver. If you can’t deliver results, your name just fades away.”
Bottas recently described the 2024 season as a whole as “terrible.”
He elaborates: “When we set the goals for 2022 with Fred and how we would achieve them, we had a clear plan. But after he left, all the objectives and his plans went out the window.”
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Bottas: “Downward Spiral” Defines My Time at Sauber Bottas: “Downward Spiral” Defines My Time at Sauber
